Hypodermic syringe



March 23, 1954 G. M. HlcKEY HYPDERMIC` SYRINGE Filed Sept. 15, 1952 VENTOR gaat 'Il ,cr/nu. '.4 TF1/1M ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 23, 1954 HYPODERMIC SYIHNGE George M. Hickey, Paoli, Pa., assigner to J. Bishop & Co. Platinum Works, Malvern, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application september 15, 1952,`s`erie1No 309,663

This invention relates to a cartridge type hypodermic syringe which is adapted to be used Ywith ydiilerent sizes of cartridges.

One well-known form of cartridge type syringe has a cylindrical barrel, a plunger rod slidably mounted at one end of the barrel and a screw threaded opening at the other end of the barrel adapted to receive a double pointed needle and the lcartridge foruse with this syringe is a cylindrical tube closed at one end by a piston and at the `other end by adiaphragm adapted to be puncturedby the needle. In the use of this type of syringe the needle is screwed into the syringe barrel, theplunger rod is retracted, the cartridge is inserted: so that its diaphragm rests on the needle point, the cartridge is pushed down on thel needle point so asto puncture the diaphragm and the plunger Vrod is applied to the piston to eject the liquid from the Lcartridge through the needle. A n

This type of syringe has the defect that it is adapted tooperate with only one sizeof cartridge. Consequently, if different sizes of cartridges containing diierent quantities of the liquid are to be used a corresponding number of different sizes of syringes must be available, It is evident that this is an inconvenience that would be avoided if the syringe were adaptedto operate with different sizes of cartridges. e v

The reason .that the well-known syringe referred to cannot be used expeditiously with differentsizes of cartridges is ,because the cartridge must be accurately centered in the barrel of the syringe so that its diaphragm, only a small central area of which is exposed, will coincide with theneedleand so that the piston inthe cartridge will coincide ,with the plunger and so thatthe plunger and piston ymay travel in a straight line coincidentA with the axiseof the cartridge. .This alinement is eilectedinl the known syringe by having the barrel ofthe syringe only slightly larger than the cartridge but if. the syringe barrel were suftciently large to receive a Ylarger cartridge it would not hold a smaller cartridge in alinement with the needle and plunger.

An object of my invention therefore is to provide a syringe which willreceive and center and aline any of tw o or moresizes of cartridges', e. g., 1 vcc., 2 cc., 3 cc., etc.. It isto be noted that the different sizes of cartridges are cylindrical. and all '5 ofthe same length but arev of different diameters'.

My invention resides in the provision of means for-aliningzall sizesjof cartridges capablefvof being inserted into the barrel Yof the syringe so that the longitudinal axis thereof 'coincides substantially Withthe axis of the syringe barrel. I have found fthat theartridge `mustbe centered as i-t.eriters .the barrelof thesyringe before its diaphragm comes into contact with the needle point and that the centering means must then be capable 5 claims. 01. 12s-*218) 'syringe' barrel and l of permitting the cartridge to move forward in the barrel until Vitsdiaphragm is punctured by the needle while maintaining it centered.

I have further found it to be desirable although not essential for the centering means to function to center not only the diaphragm end of the cartridge but also the piston end so that the latter will be in position to cooperate with 'the plunger. lOtherwise the piston end of the cartridge may be alined with the plunger by the ngers of the operator. It is not practicable, however, for the operator to aline the diaphragm end of the cartridge with the needle by the use of his fingers. e

More particularly therefore my invention resides in theprovision of resilient means within the syringeA barrel whichis capable of receiving at least two sizes of cartridges and of holding them in central position therein.

Two speciiic embodiments of theinvention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings `in which: Y A

e Fig. l is a side elevation of the syringe;

Fig, `2 is a side elevation of the syringe at an angie of 907,110 thatef Fie. l: Y

Y Fig. 3 isa side elevation of the syringe at the same angle as inFig. 2 with the head and plunger turned at anangle of to the barrel to permit the insertion of a cartridge into the barrel;

Fig. 4 is a section through the syringe on the same plane as Fig. l., showing a small cartridge in position and the cartridge alining means;

e Fig. 5 isa section similar to Fig. 4 but showing a larger size cartridge in position and a modied form of cartridge alining means;

Fig 6 is an end *view of the cartridge alining means of Fig. 4; n A l Fig. 7 isa frontelevation of the cartridge alining means of Figo; e

Fig. 8 is a .fragmentaryl section similar to Fig.

5 but showing a smaller size cartridge in 'the g Fig. 9 is .an eleva-tion ofthe cartridge-alining means'ofF'gi'.

Referring to the drawings, I is the syringe harrel, 2 is 'the Yplunger which is carried by the hinged head 3, r4 is the double pointed needle and 5 is the cartridge alining means. As appears in Fig. l; openingsrSg-provide a window in the barrel wall vthrough whiclll tol observe the cartridge. The window alsofprovides-a means of grasping the cartridge for VYremoval V'after the injection is completed. The'hinged head 3 consists of two bars which are vhinged to the barrel l by rivets 'I and support the cap 8 between their parallel DQ@.9I1.S9'.W11..1.thQT 131159.13115 extending P01" tions l0 providetnger grips. Within the cap 8 tngonower l yI iiiszurgedtlits jorward positen.

'iwwhichdt"protrudes from`-the cap 8; by the spring I2. The outer surface of the follower H is conical in shape and serves to center the upper end of the cartridge. The structure thus far described, excepting the alining means and the conil -falce Lof the follower l I, ris a wellknown syringe to which my invention is applied by the provision of means for aligning the axes of cartridges of different diameters with the axis of the syringe barrel. Of various devices -trie'd for this purpose, I have found that -resilient lor spring means give most satisfactory results. Spring means may be made of corrosion resistant metal similar to the metal of thesyringe itself and capable of being sterilized without damage and of retaining its utility over a long yperiod of use. I have devised two specific spring means which are particularly illustrated in Figs. 4-9 and which havethe common features that-they provide a tapered 'r'ass'ageway 'capable of receiving cartridges i3 of diierent sizes and of yielding as the cartridge is pushed forward and of guiding'the center of the diaphragm end I of the cartridge to theneedle.

lThe guide spring illustrated in Figs. l, 4,' 6 and 7 consistsof the two converging spring ngers I5 which are vsupported atabout 180c from each other by the yoke IS. The fingers l5 are arcuate in cross-section to guide the circular end of the cartridge. At their ends adjacent the lyoke I6 they are as far apart as the diameter of the syringe barrel while their other ends are spaced apart a distance'slightly less than the diameter of the smallest cartridge to be used in the syringe. The aligning means 5 may be removably held in the barrel l byff'riction alone or `it may be secured within the barrel for instance by means yof the innerends of the rivets 'I which serve nalso to pivot th'earms 9 vto the barrel.

The coil spring l1 shown in Figs. v5, 8 and 9 may be secured lto the end ofthe syringe barrel in any suitable way as by means `of a drop of solder or by welding or,like ythe alining means 5, it may. bejiree in the syringe barrel where, due to the fact that it snugly `ts the inside of the barreLit will maintain its coaxial position. The springs 5 and I7-, unless secured as described above, may slideendwise in vthe barrel and may be removed therefrom and thus may serve, by being binserted into the barrel of an existing syringe to adapt it to use cartridges of different sizes.

d The spring l1 is `of funnel shape, i. e., conical at one end and cylindrical at the other, the cylindrical portion beingrelatively short, i. e., 2 or 3 turns, and of a diameter' slightly smaller than the smallest cartridge to be used in the syringe. `The end of the syringe barrel, around the needle may be plane, as illustrated, or it may `be `provided with aw-circular groove (not shown) to receive all or a part of the cylindrical portion of the spring Il. Y y e In the use of the syringes illustrated the needle is aflxed to thel barrel andthe head 3 is turned to one side as shownin Fig. 3, the cartridge is inserted in the barrel l and pushed forward, being guided by the Vdining means 5 or I'Ion to the point of theneedle 4. vThe cartridge is then pushed forwardwto puncture the diaphragm by forcing the smallend of the needle through it. 'The head3 f the syringe is then brought to the position shown in Figs. 1, 2', 4 and 5 whereupon thevfollower `Il is pushed forward by the spring l2 and centers the upper vend' of the cartridge.` The 'plunger `2 then scrwa dn Lte die pistn it f the cartridge thus 4 completing the preparation of the syringe for an injection.

Itis noted that the cartridge --is inserted into the syringe after the needle has been affixed. If this could be avoided, i. e., if the cartridge could be inserted rst and then the needle, the provision of alining means would be unnecessary because Vthe 'cartridge could be alined by making the lower end of the syringe barrel and the follower Il conical. (However, it is important to insert the needle first and then to insert the cartridgein order topreserve the sterility of the needle and further in order to avoid coring of the diaphragm of the cartridge and plugging or the needle which would occur if the needle were aixed after the 4cartridge is inserted.

It will be"apparent that a variety of changes may bemade in the specic embodiments of my invention which are'shown and described by Way of illustration without departing from my invention, the'scope `of which is dened in the appended claims.

YI claim: H

`1 'A cartridgeetype hypodermic syringe cinnprising a cylindrical barrel, a double pointed needle mounted at one end of said barrel, a plunger having a concave conically shaped outer face mounted at the other end of said barrel for movement lengthwise thereof, spring means having a frusto conical portion mounted within said barrel, the axis of said frusto vconical portion coinciding with 'the axis of the'barrel, the'diameter of the larger end f'said `frusto conical prtionjbeing substantially equal to the diameter of said barrel and the "diameter of the smaller end of said frusto yco-nical Aportion normally being not substantially. Agreater than half of the diametero'f said barrel, said spring means 'being yieldable to prmittlyiefin'sertion of cartridges 'of `substantially diffrent diameters into said barrel and servirif'gl to center the r'diapliragm 'end 'of such cartridges in said Barrel. 2. A hypodermic's'yringe as, dened in claim 1 in which said spring means comprises vat least two fingers each of Awhich. 'is attached at one end only thereof tothe wall lof the barrel adjacent the plunger end thereof and extends diagonally in a straight .line fromA the point f 'attachment Vtowijrd the 'other ``n`d of the barrel Vand inwardly towardV the axis thereof. y

3. A hypderrnic lsyringe as dened in yclaim l in whichthe spring `meanscon'sist's off a coiled spring having a conically shaped portion, the larger endy of which isnearr the plunger end of the barrel and vnci'rminm'of a diameter at least equal toy thatxofthe barrel.

4. AAv hypoderinic syringe 'as defined in claim 1 in which the spring means is a coiled Yspring 'f 'funnel "shape, the nrmaimaxnnum diletieref which v`is at least re'q'uaI to the diameter of the b'allel- 5*. `A hypodermic syringe as defined in claim l in which 4the spring fme'ans isa coiled spring of funnel shape, the diameter of the cylindrical portion of A which is` substantially Smaller than the diameter of the syringe barrel.,

GEORGE M. 'HICKY- Referenties casa in the 'are df this 'patent July 15, 193D 

